LAGOS TO ESTABLISH EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Sunday said plans
are underway to establish an Early Intervention Centre in 2018 to provide
therapy and educational support services for infants and young children with
special needs.

The centre, according to the Governor, will enable the State
Government equip such children with necessary skills and help develop their
potential, thereby overcoming identified developmental delays as far as
possible.

Speaking at a programme put together
by the Lagos State Office of Disability Affairs (LASODA) to commemorate the
United Nations International Day of Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs)
held at Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, the Governor also assured that more
people with disability would be employed into the State civil service in
2018.

“Our administration is making plans
to establish an Early Intervention Centre for the provision of therapy and
educational support services for infants and young children with special needs.
This will enable us equip these children with necessary skills and help develop
their potential, thereby overcoming identified developmental delays as far as
possible,” he said.

While urging Nigerians to always
embrace people in such situation and look out for their welfare, Governor
Ambode said it was important for the general public to refrain from looking
down on them but rather look out for their good qualities.

According to him, “I urge the
general public to always embrace People Living With Disabilities and always
look out for the good qualities God has deposited in them.”

The Governor, who recalled his
promise to deliver an all-inclusive government in which no one would be left
behind, said the event was another opportunity to reaffirm the policy stance of
his administration, just as he assured that the welfare and well-being of PLWDs
would always be a priority.

He said the theme of this year’s celebration - “Transformation
Towards Sustainable And Resilient Society For All” was apt and in tandem with
his vision which is to enable people with disability become active contributors
in the society.

He said: “As a government, it is
very critical to us to ensure the effective integration of people living with
disabilities, especially in today’s changing world.

“For us in Lagos State, we see ability in disability always. We
believe strongly that the socio-economic integration of persons with
disabilities is not only a human right but also a prerequisite for sustainable
development. Our experience has shown that when people with disabilities are
adequately empowered to participate in and lead the process of development,
their entire families, communities and even the larger society will benefit.

“As a result, we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to
ensure a more comfortable socio-economic status for these members of our
community by providing them with various opportunities.”

While reeling out some of the interventions of his
administration, the Governor said a total of 250 PLWDs were recently employed
into the State’s Civil Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development
Areas, while more of such people would be employed next year.

Similarly, 500 persons have also benefitted from the State
Government’s special empowerment programme drawn from the N500million Special
People’s Fund established by the Ambode administration, while various assistive
technologies, mobility aids and financial grants were given to 2,000 persons
living with disabilities and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) involved in
taking care of such categories of people.

“As a government, we will continue to embark on
initiatives to improve the quality of lives of our people. We will always work
to develop the productive capacity of persons with disabilities and give them
opportunities to play a role in socio-economic growth of our State,” he said.

Restating the fact that there is ability in every disability,
the Governor charged PLWDs not to allow any circumstance limit their progress
and life aspirations, adding that they must strive to achieve the best in
everything and command respect from people in the society.

In his lecture at the event, President of Benola Cerebral Palsy
Foundation, AVM Femi Gbadebo commended Governor Ambode for his numerous
initiatives geared toward upholding the rights and welfare of PLWDs such as
N500million Disability Fund and various empowerment programmes.

Also, Chairperson of Lagos State Chapter of Joint National
Association of Persons With Disability, Deaconess Beyioku Adedoyin and Dr
Adebayo Adebukola of Human and Organizational Resources Development Centre
commended the State Government for prioritizing the welfare of PLWDs, saying
that the State had become a reference point for positively handling disability
affairs and development.

At the event, awards were given to various caregivers and NGOs
involved in disability affairs, while there were also performances by groups of
disabled people including Divine Melody Makers Band, Down Syndrome Society and
Wesley School for the Deaf and Hearing Impairment.

LAGOS TO ESTABLISH EARLY INTERVENTION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
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